Big Y helps schools

Springfield-based Big Y World Class Markets, which operates grocery stores in Central Massachusetts among locations, will relaunch its Big Y Education Express program on Thursday.

When shoppers buy products marked with a school bus logo on the shelf sign and present their Big Y Express Savings Club or Silver Savings Club cards at checkout, they earn points for the schools of their choice. Customers can track contributions online, and schools receive point updates weekly and can redeem points for free supplies anytime during the program.

Customers can sign up to support the school of their choice anytime; points will accumulate from Thursday through Jan. 1, 2014.

Go out to dinner and do good during October at The Ninety Nine Restaurants.

The Woburn-based casual restaurant chain, which operates in Central Massachusetts among its market areas, hopes to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Boys & Girls Clubs through an initiative that begins tomorrow through Oct. 31. Last year, the chain raised more than $200,000 for the clubs.

Diners can add $1, $3, $5 or more to their guest checks, purchase a $5 commemorative bracelet or order a Boys & Girls Club sandwich or entrée from which $1 goes to the closest chapter.

Day Kimball Healthcare in Putnam will benefit from special bagel sales by Panera Bread in Lisbon, Conn.

To mark the 11th annual Pink Ribbon Bagel Campaign, 25 cents from the sale of each Pink Ribbon Bagel will be donated to Day Kimball Healthcare for its breast health programs and initiatives. The fundraiser will run through October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Panera gift cards will also be donated to Day Kimball for breast cancer survivors.